Aï: From Japan with Love

Japanese-inspired Asian food hotspot in the Goldenes Quartier

Taking Asian cuisine in Vienna to a new level. That is the aim of the new restaurant Aï from the Kamp Catering Gruppe. And it’s also heralded by the name – Aï is the Japanese word for “love”.

In addition to the robata grill and sushi bar, the Aï also features a classic cocktail bar complete with lounge. This is where the various branches of Asian cuisine come together – celebrated in family style over a business lunch or at dinner with friends.

The Group Executive Chef is the New Zealander Samuel Wilkes, who discovered his love of Asian food early and has already cooked in top restaurants in Europe and Asia. He stands at the oven alongside head chef Sören Herzig, while the sushi bar is run by the Japanese chef Tun San. He has invented signature maki with foie gras, freshwater eel, hand-dipped scallops or soft-shell crab, for example.

Miso with bacon, raindrop cake with Hallstein Water

“It was clear to us that we would develop our own creations using the high quality that Austrian produce has to offer. So we combined miso soup or dipped scallops with bacon from Johann Ortner,” explains Herzig. “Added to that is the best produce from around the world.” Their vegetables are supplied by Austrian farmers. And in the name of sustainability, a few Asian vegetables are even grown especially for Aï.

The desserts include the Japanese speciality raindrop cake (Mizu Shingen Mochi) – prepared especially for Vienna with glacial Hallstein Water. Here, too, the fusion of regional products with Asian cooking continues. “With Aï, we want to create somewhere that interweaves the various traditions and branches of Asian cuisine in a new way,” according to Mark Khalifé, Managing Director of Kamp Catering.